Typhoon Dodong May 9, 2015 Update

Typhoon Dodong update as of Saturday, May 9, 2015: Bagyong Dodong has slowed down as it moves towards the Eastern coast of Northern Luzon.

In its latest severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 4 p.m. today, the center of the tropical cyclone was spotted 350 kilometers East of Infanta, Quezon.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 195 kph, Typhoon Dodong is moving West Northwest at 18 kph.

State forecasters said heavy to intense rainfall is expected within the 150-km diameter of the typhoon, which is estimated to make landfall over the coast of Isabela-Cagayan area by Sunday morning (May 10).

Public storm warning signals:

Signal No. 3 (121-170 kph, expected in 18 hours)

Cagayan

Isabela

Northern Aurora

Impacts of the wind:

Heavy damage to high–risk structures;

Moderate damage to medium- risk structures;

Light damage to low-risk structures

Increasing damage (up to more than 50%) to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed

Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber-CHB structures, usually with G.I. roofing’s); some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed.

There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services.

Almost all banana plants are downed

Some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are broken or uprooted,

Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed.

Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses

Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off; some large trees blown down.

Ocean wave height: 14 meters (open sea)

Signal No. 2 (61-120 kph, expected in 24 hours)

Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands

Apayao

Kalinga

Mt. Province

Nueva Vizcaya

Ifugao

Rest of Aurora

Polillo Island

Catanduanes

Qurino

Impacts of the wind:

Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures;

Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures;

No damage to very light damage to low risk structures

Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed.

A number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed.

Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off.

Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed.

Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards

In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken

Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken

Rice and corn may be adversely affected

Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.

Ocean wave height: 4.1 to 14 meters (open sea)

Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph, expected in 36 hours)

Batanes

Abra

Ilocos Sur

Ilocos Norte

Benguet

Nueva Ecija

Quezon

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Impacts of the wind:

Very light or no damage to low risk structures.

Light damage to medium to high risk structures.

Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities. Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged.

Twigs of small trees may be broken.

Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.

Ocean wave height: 1.25 to 4 meters (open sea)

The weather agency alerted residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with storm signals against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Storm surges of up to 2 meters are possible over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Quezon, Isabela and Cagayan, forecasters said.

PAGASA advised fishermen not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and the public to refrain from outdoor activities particularly along beaches of the eastern section of Luzon this weekend.